site.btaInterior Ministry to Propose Set of Measures Aimed at Improving Road Safety

Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry will be proposing a set of measures aimed at improving road safety, Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said in Veliko Tarnovo (North Central Bulgaria) on Monday.

The measures will identify key problems and outline solutions. The proposals include the installation of safety poles along roads and sections known for frequent accidents, the placement of alert strips, and maintaining a constant presence of traffic police. Mitov expressed hope that traffic cameras will soon be purchased and installed. He also spoke of the need for integrating the toll system with the Interior Ministry’s system to enable better monitoring of traffic violations. There are also plans to reform how fines are issued and collected, allowing police to issue on-the-spot penalties for those who breach the Road Traffic Act. Mitov added that using unmarked Interior Ministry vehicles would also be an effective measure.

“We need to build ethical barriers that people are unwilling to cross if we want to reduce crime because the Interior Ministry alone cannot prevent crime even with a 100% detection rate,“ Mitov said.

The Interior Minister commented on President Rumen Radev's statement that road accidents are largely due to “negligence” and “a sense of impunity.” In Mitev’s words, the issue stems from the lack of direction over the past four years. “This political vacuum has weakened the administrative and institutional frameworks responsible for enforcing regulations,” the Minister said. He added that the major task ahead of the government now is to “re-mobilize the public administration and institutions so they can do their jobs as quickly and efficiently as possible”. Mitov said that the Interior Ministry’s interactive map, which indicates dangerous road sections, should also play a role in these efforts.

During his visit to Veliko Tarnovo, Mitov was briefed on the 2024 activities of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry. He described the report as “objective”, as it outlines both achievements and areas for improvement. The Interior Ministry’s priorities for the coming year were addressed, with a focus on prevention, including in the areas of drug distribution, telephone fraud, and traffic-related injuries.